MEET THE BOOKSELLER: Molly Murn, Matilda Bookshop
Every thriving reading community needs good bookshops, and good booksellers. In our Meet the Bookseller series, we introduce you to some of Australia's most loved booksellers, starting with our local community of Adelaide. If you'd like to nominate a bookshop or bookseller to be featured, please let us know in comments, or email maddy@wakefieldpress.com.au.
This week, we have Molly Murn, a long-time bookseller at Matilda Bookshop in the spectacular Adelaide Hills town of Stirling. Read on to find out what she loves about being a bookseller, and how she first got into the business of books.
How long have you been a bookseller?
I have been a bookseller at Matilda Bookshop for eight-and-a-half lovely book-ish years.
What do you love about being a bookseller?
What I love most about being a bookseller is talking to people about books. Some of my most treasured conversations have occurred in a bookshop. I also love being surrounded by books – the objects themselves and the worlds/words contained within. Oh, and did I mention getting to chat to authors and publishers about books and writing?
What was the last book you read and loved?
I've recently loved Charlotte Wood's The Luminous Solution (due October), Jennifer Downs Bodies of Light (due September). I'm very excited to get to Hannah Kent and Elizabeth's Strout's new novels soon, and I'm halfway through The Wingmaker by Mette Jakobsen. It's strange and beautiful. A little plug here from me for The Kangaroo Islanders by WA Cawthorne, edited and introduced by Rick Hosking. A book close to my heart.
What’s special or distinctive about your shop?
I think the distinctive features of our bookshop are its glorious Hills location, its thoughtfully curated selection of just beautiful books, the range of our author events programme, and some special alchemy to do with space, light, good-will, that I can't put my finger on.